Airport Noise Abatement Laboratory

The Airport Noise Abatement Laboratory is devoted to the experimental studies of identifying and finding ways to reduce the intensity of sound produced by aircraft operations.

The room houses a 1,200-pound, electromagnetic-force capacity shaker table, which is basically a huge stereo speaker. It is the “driver” for vibration simulation and testing. The lab also has a variety of specialized instrumentation and computer software for gathering and analyzing acoustic data.

The Airport Noise Abatement Laboratory operates in conjunction with Embry-Riddle’s anechoic wind tunnel, located across the hall in the Wind Tunnel Laboratory. The anechoic wind tunnel is primarily used for testing propellers and turbines up to 18 inches in diameter. This data is used for determining engine-radiated noise and engine performance characteristics.

In addition to the shaker table, the list of equipment in the Airport Noise Abatement Laboratory includes:

B and K integrating sound-level meters

8-channel analog/digital data acquisition system, using notebook computer, which includes SpectraPRO signal processing software, which is ideal for real-time and post-experiment evaluation

Engine noise test facility that includes a AW dynamometer for simultaneously recording engine torque and power for evaluating reciprocating engines up to 600 horsepower